When the Vikings selected defensive end Ade Aruna in the sixth round of the NFL draft last week, Keith Millard was elated.

Millard, a two-time all-pro defensive tackle for the Vikings from 1985-90, worked Aruna out for three weeks in January to help prepare him for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and NFL scouting combine.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound Tulane product on Thursday signed a four-year, $2.578 million contract with a $118,408 signing bonus and will take the field for the first time for the Vikings on Friday, the first day of a three-day rookie minicamp.

“They’re going to love him,” said Millard, whose 18 sacks in 1989 rank as the third-most for the Vikings in a season. “He’s got work to do and he’s green, but he’s athletic and he’s definitely going to be one of those guys who does anything you ask and puts the work in. I told Ade, ‘You’re going to love that defense.’ It’s the perfect situation for him to work with (defensive line coach) Andre Patterson.”

Aruna, a native of Nigeria, came to the United States in 2010 to play basketball; he didn’t play football until his senior year of high school. He had 11 sacks in his final three seasons at Tulane.

After last season, Aruna’s agent, Steve Caric, called Millard, a former NFL assistant, to work with Aruna on the field and in the film room. The sessions were held at California Strength, a facility in San Ramon owned by Dave Spitz, a weightlifting specialist who also was involved in Aruna’s workouts.

Millard taught Aruna an array of moves. He provided tips on pad level and about making the first move while not waiting to see what an offensive lineman does.

“Coach Keith was everything I wanted in a coach,” Aruna said. “When it comes to the defensive line and pass rushing, he taught me almost everything I never knew before. … It was a great opportunity to get with somebody like him to learn what it is to play defensive line and pass-rush specialties.”

At the combine in February, Aruna used some pointers from Millard and showed off his athleticism, Among defensive ends, Aruna had the top vertical jump (38.5 inches), best standing broad jump (10.8 inches), second-best time in the 40-yard dash (4.6 seconds) and second-best in the 10-yard split (1.6 seconds).

“He’s got some work no doubt to learn the pro game,” Millard said. “He’s still got to clean up his technique and get his fundamentals down, but as far as the canvas to paint, it’s all there. He’s got great size and length, and he’s obviously very athletic.”

BRIEFLY

— In addition to Aruna, the Vikings on Thursday signed kicker Daniel Carlson, a fifth-round pick, guard Colby Gossett, a sixth-round selection, and linebacker Devante Downs, a seventh-round pick. Carlson got a four-year, $2.708 million deal with a signing bonus of $248,012 and has a 2018 salary-cap number of $542,003. Gossett and Aruna have identical four-year deals, with both having the same signing bonus and a cap number of $509,602. Downs got a four-year, $2.554 million contract with a signing bonus of $94,400 and has a cap number of $503,600. If not signed by the start of minicamp, Minnesota’s other four draftees are expected to participate under injury protection agreements.

— The contract cornerback Terence Newman signed to return to the Vikings is for the NFL veteran minimum of $1.015 million plus a $90,000 workout bonus for a total of $1.105 million. Newman, who turns 40 in September, made $3.25 million last season, meaning he took more than a $2 million cut to return for what he calls his final year.

— After seven weeks as the NFL’s highest-paid player based on average salary per year, Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins lost that distinction when Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan agreed to a five-year, $150 million extension. Ryan’s average is $30 million to the $28 million average Cousins got March 15 on a three-year, $84 million deal.

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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